cars we want back

[Bubba1]

This past months Automobile compiled a list of cars they'd like to follow the NSX back from the grave:

Their list:

Lincoln continental (think suicide door boxy monster from the early 60's)
Volvo P1800 (was originally called the poor man's Ferrari)
original Ford Bronco (not the big OJ simpson cruiser, the smaller previous gen that excelled offroad)
Honda Prelude
VW Microbus
Alfa Romeo spider
Jeep Comanche
Toyota Supra
Chevy El Camino
Buick Riviera (we're talking mid 60's - real american muscle+luxury)

Any additions/Deletions besides an updated 240SX?

Bubba's additions

I'd like to see the return of the Mazda RX-7 and an aircooled 911

[hannibal]

I'd love to see the Pontiac G8 return. It never even had a chance.

And Joel, didnt the RX-7 come back as the RX-8??

[alms24sebring]

I agree with the prelude and Supra. But I would really rather them stay retired than having them come back being a bulky hybrid and ugly as f***. They had their heyday

Hmm my first option would be the SRT 4. It was quick, fast, turbo, and loud, and I dont care what anyone says it looked really good. Just wikipedia'ing it says they claimed to be 215hp (2003) to 230hp (04-05) and 245-250 lb-ft of torque, but had showed signs that it was actually faster than the claims. I believe it. My friends old one was stock (just an e-cutout) and ALWAYS beat other mildly modded SRT4's. It was a lucky freak car. Not bad at all if you ask me in a 2900 lb car.

- RX7 or another turbo'd rotory, not this RX8 crap.
- Sort of happy to see the Camaro back but its super heavy and they tried to hard on the interior.

Thats on the top of my head but I have to head out now, already late..

[alms24sebring]

I'd love to see the Pontiac G8 return. It never even had a chance.

And Joel, didnt the RX-7 come back as the RX-8??

If you ask me they are extra long distant cousins, not by blood either. I hate RX8s

[Bubba1]

I'd love to see the Pontiac G8 return. It never even had a chance.

And Joel, didnt the RX-7 come back as the RX-8??

Mazda thought so, but I don't.
the FD was no frills 2 seat sports car. RX-8 is a fine car in its own right, but it has rear seats.

[Jesda]

I'd like to see a whole lineup of Datsun compact cars including a small truck, a small microvan (like the Cube but smaller and better to drive), a Miata-like sports car, and a Mini Cooper-like microcar with sharp handling.

Cadillac Eldorado. A large high-luxury coupe/convertible that competes with the BMW 6-series and Mercedes CL. Eldorado is a more credible name than Cadillac itself.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer -- a modern 7-seater like the Commander but with dramatic elongated styling. It could be Jeep's Escalade. Of course, I don't see that ever happening with $4 gas.

Now would be a great time for a successor to the original Honda Insight. Something super light with four seats (the back seats would be for kids only) that got 70+ mpg. I dont understand why we no longer have a Civic hatchback. A 45mpg Civic VX successor would sell like hotcakes right now.

[Bubba1]

If you ask me they are extra long distant cousins, not by blood either. I hate RX8s

They did not excite me either until Greenblurr93 allowed me to try his RX-8 at Carlisle. I was surprised how balanced and nimble it was. I'd still buy an FD before an RX-8, but I was wrong about the RX-8. It's a really nice car.

[Encryptshun]

Your selection of words was spot-on: the NSX is not back from the dead, it's back from the grave. It came back warped, twisted, and monstrous, with ugly, bloated flesh hanging off of its previously lustrous body.

What they did to mar the image of that car should be punishable by the International Criminal Court.

[Heavy]

Hmm tough question...

Honda Prelude-The last generation of Prelude was a nice car, to bad it was over shadowed by the accord coupe. If there is ever a thought in bringing it back make it rwd. It was just one of those cars youd look at and wonder if it would roast the tires off the rears and then you realize it just wheel hops in the front..

Honda S2000-Still trying to figure out why this was even cut in the first place?

RX7-Like stated before the RX7 was a bare bones sports car with witchcraft under the hood, something the RX8 never lived up to (IMO)

Mitsubishi Starion/3000GT VR-4-Please mitsu give us something else other than some fanboy awd automatic flappy paddle mess you are currently producing. Oh and just to add make sure it has a full set of injectors and a reliable motor this time....

Supra-Why the hell not, the FT86/FRS/BRZ is great for the budget crowd but lets have something that will be run with the Z/Mustang/Genesis

SC300/400-You screwed up wih the SC430 and you only have 2 coupes in your line up, the boring IS350C and the uber exspensive LFA. Get something in the 40-50k range thats not a bloated heavy peice of crap and youll make some people happy

CRX-CRZ LOL

[sbird1]

Buick Grand National: badass turbocharged Buick

Also, definitely agree with the S2000 and 1st gen Bronco.

[300ZXttZMAN]

RX7-Like stated before the RX7 was a bare bones sports car with witchcraft under the hood, something the RX8 never lived up to (IMO)

IMHO this is so so so true.. I hear of nothing but problems with the RX8. A buddy of mine has one and he is not even a tuner or anything its just bone stock and he is on his second engine. (Mazda replaced it under warranty)

[Rex]

It's funny you bring started this thread Joel. Audi's bringing back the Allroad (or so they claim), but the die hard Allroad guys disagree. Check Out 1 of the recent discussions regarding the revised versions shortcomings
http://forums.quattroworld.com/allroad/msgs/99566.phtml

Heavy - as an owner of an SC400, it was a miss, even the SC300 w/ the stick wasn't the car they needed to offer, but I think a Supra & a (Lexus grade) variant would be a good idea.

Agree with the Buick GN.

Would like to see the 94-95 Q45 again.

And maybe a full sized domestic wagon to help reduce the # of Expeditions/Suburbans at the Mall & soccer fields.

[alms24sebring]

Honda S2000-Still trying to figure out why this was even cut in the first place?

I was ganna say this post stealer. I love how they KEPT IT THE SAME LOOKING CAR after 2005, which is very important. I love them, its an almost perfect car (hardtop please)

RX7-Like stated before the RX7 was a bare bones sports car with witchcraft under the hood, something the RX8 never lived up to (IMO)

I never liked them even when they first came out (2004?). Ugly, heavy, and slow. Motors are horrible but maybe its just the rotory itself, I know it was somewhat of the same problem with previous gens. Ive seen chocolate milk oil with less than 40k miles on it. They should make a real rotory powered car.

Supra-Why the hell not, the FT86/FRS/BRZ is great for the budget crowd but lets have something that will be run with the Z/Mustang/Genesis

Read my above post. 95% guaranteed to be a hybrid or some weaksauce 4000lb full of electric crap. Itll never live to be the a true Supra. Like I said some cars that are dead really need to stay that way because they left with a bang. The 90's have come and gone and should be left that way. Brett Favre'd cars almost always suck and downgrade their legacies IMO.

[zacmil]

I think I agree with every vehicle mentioned thus far. I would love to see a new Bronco like the 1st gen with a 4cyl diesel engine. I'd also love to see a new RX7 simply because rotaries are neat--maybe try and use some of this new skyactiv wizardry (don't know if it can be done, but I know fuel economy was one of the reasons a lot of non-enthusiast buyers tended to avoid it).

Mitsubishi Starion/3000GT VR-4-Please mitsu give us something else other than some fanboy awd automatic flappy paddle mess you are currently producing. Oh and just to add make sure it has a full set of injectors and a reliable motor this time....

I couldn't agree with you more, but with all of this hybrid nonsense flying around about the new Evo, I doubt we will ever see a cool Mitsubishi again.

A car that never really got a fair shake from GM was the Sky/Solstice. My dad and I got to go on an unaccompanied test drive in a Solstice GXP once, and it was very quick. My dad, who has been lusting after a Miata for the better part of two decades, actually preferred the Solstice to the Mazdaspeed Miata we test drove on the same day.

My other additions would include:
MR2- give us something like the first two generations.
A Beetle with the engine in the back, where it belongs.
CRX or Del Sol- something tiny, fun, and cheap, just like the original

[Jesda]

GM has the Alpha platform now. They really could do a GN the right way if they wanted to.

The Dodge Magnum should make a comeback. I realize they sold poorly, but how about one with an updated body and interior like the new Charger?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Good thread. I agree with everyone thus far as well.
I'd like to add:

I fear WW3 will break out when the zombie apocalypse happens and these will be just as precious as disease free water.

And, believe it or not, I'd like to see the original Saturn brand come back. Hold on, sheath your swords. Those cars were BUILT to get beat on. So cheap, so economical, nothing fancy whatsoever. The wagons were useful on so many levels. They were great in the snow. You could use it as a catcher for playing baseball when you didn't have enough people.

A nissan 4 banger pickup sans QR timebomb would be great too.
Dare I say also, a Saab or 2?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

This should come back too:

[carloslebaron]

Morris. Morris Mark II

This car carried 13 of us when we went to buy fried chicken at nights (with the trunk up, of course), and this car handled it very well.
Economical, small to enter anywhere and big enough to go out with my buddies. Lots of fan with this vehicle inherited from gradpa, until some bolts, springs, and similar started to fall under the vehicle. After a few months was making crancking sounds, and when a mechanic gave a look to its motor, he didn't believe that this car arrived to his shop crawling but by its own, because lots of the internal parts of its motor where missing when he disassembled it.

We can't find the replacement parts and this car died "after the autopsy". Sniff sniff...

[C-Kwik]

This should come back too:

That leaky old thing?

[Kompresshun]

Ditto on the GNX. Take a CTS coupe and re-work the body a little - instant GNX. Maybe offer it with the 3.6L V6 and Twin Turbo, instead of a V8.

I hear rumor of Chevrolet releasing something based on the new Caprice Police platform, but I hope they don't bring back the Caprice nameplate for it. I'd be much happier if they dropped the current Impala platform and slapped the nameplate on that instead.

I'm on board with the resurrection of the RX7 too. I had respect for the RX8, especially considering it's unique rear doors, but it was far from what the RX7 was IMHO.

I really can't add much more than has already been said. There are some really good ones already.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Nissan Maxima (It died 5 years ago, don't let Nissan fool you).
Infiniti Q
Ford Galaxie (including a hotted-up 500 trim)
Toyota MR2
Porsche 928
Cadillac Seville/STS (only very recently deceased, but shamelessly and dishonorably replaced by the neighbor's fat aunt). Including LWB and V editions.
Lincoln LS
Lincoln Mark LT
Lincoln Town Car
Chevy Trailblazer
Ford Ranger (dead this year)

Honda Prelude

I've never understood exactly what is supposed to make the Prelude so great. 'Course I've never driven one. But it seems to me like just YET ANOTHER fwd 4-cylinder 2-door sedan (coupe if you want I guess). I never liked the Integra much, either. The Prelude always had one really ugly end, too...for a while it was the back, then it was the front. WTF was with those square headlights? I don't even...

And Joel, didnt the RX-7 come back as the RX-8??

Nope. Lots of cars have borne the RX prefix. Only one of them was the RX7. Some were sedans, some were coupes, some were pickups. Name starting with RX doesn't mean it's an RX7.

[hannibal]

I by no means believe the RX-8 is a worthy successor to the the FD. But if we're discounting mfg'ers attempts at evolution, bring back a real GTi. Only 2000lbs with 140hp. Thats how FF was meant to be.

On the same subject, gimme a real Mini... and the Space Shuttle...

[alms24sebring]

and the Space Shuttle...

haha the most important one.

I like the late model Preludes. The square lights worked and the butt end looked good too, even tho it was square too it worked. The SH's were cool.

I guess I also agree with the RR Bug.

What about Acura Legends, Mazda Millenea (Supercharged), should I say Viper GTS?, I think the McLarean F1 should stay dead, Integra, seriously the S2000

I hear rumors of an S16 around in the 240sx section....

[Jesda]

I'd love to see Mazda get back into luxury cars once this nonsense with exchange rates is sorted out. They're selling more cars than before but losing money due to the Yen.

[MinisterofDOOM]

What about Acura Legends, Mazda Millenea (Supercharged), should I say Viper GTS?, I think the McLarean F1 should stay dead, Integra, seriously the S2000

The Legend survived as the RL, which is a complete directionless disaster of a car. I always liked the Vigor better anyway (which lived on as the TL...which has ALSO become a horrid disaster of a car).
The Legend and Vigor names are certainly more interesting than TL and RL.

The Viper is coming back. Next year. And it'll be a hardtop.

I miss the Millenia, but it did at least get a long life (sold in the US from 93 to 03...quite a lifespan for a sedan).

McLaren's got the MP4-12C, which is a better car and a worthy successor to the F1 anyway.

I'd definitely love to see a new S2000.

Integra I could not possibly care less about. I did like the RSX, but previous generations were generic econocars with weirdo styling.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Why am I the first one to say this...but considering the massive amount of hype behind the FRS...Nissan is sure to take notice and SHOULD produce a successor to the 240. The viper is coming back, but not as a Dodge.
How about a Subaru Brat(Minus the rear facing seats because f*** regulations)...small 4wd with decent ground clearance and a small turbocharged engine
Minitrucks need to make a major comeback. Toyota, Datsun, even a new s10(f*** the Colorado and it's inline 5)

[alms24sebring]

The Viper is coming back. Next year. And it'll be a hardtop.

Hardtop is good. ^ But what is that not as a Dodge

McLaren's got the MP4-12C, which is a better car and a worthy successor to the F1 anyway.

Yes I know and I couldnt think of the name, and I guess your right about that. Thats fair to say

Integra I could not possibly care less about. I did like the RSX, but previous generations were generic econocars with weirdo styling.

I guess an RSX is an technically Integra (in Japan) so I guess that is also a true and fair statement.

[zacmil]

How about a Subaru Brat(Minus the rear facing seats because f*** regulations)...small 4wd with decent ground clearance and a small turbocharged engine

Yes! I want a Brat so badly it's not even funny. Unfortunately it seems as though no more than like five of them ever made their way into Kentucky. Finding a Japanese car other than a Camry or a Civic made before 1990 is just about impossible around here. Except for the old Z cars, for some reason there are a ton of them.

Minitrucks need to make a major comeback. Toyota, Datsun, even a new s10(f*** the Colorado and it's inline 5)

I couldn't agree more. I don't need it to do too much truck stuff, just for hauling the occasional engine or other large object. I absolutely hate having to borrow my grandpa's pickup every time I need to haul something remotely large. Of course, I'm open to the idea of a Colorado. I don't know anything about the 5cyl, but my mom has a Trailblazer with the 6cyl and it's actually a pretty good little truck.

The Viper is coming back. Next year. And it'll be a hardtop.

Hardtop is good. ^ But what is that not as a Dodge

Probably the same sort of thing that they did with the trucks. Technically, Ram is now it's own brand. I think it had something to do with Fiat.

[alms24sebring]

pffft whatever, its still a freakin Dodge

[Razi]

And it'll still kick your a**.